Top lift actuator

ABSTRACT

An actuator for a collapsible top of a vehicle comprising a compact arrangement of series connected planetary or epicyclic gear sets including a fixed ring gear common to all sets serving as a pivot mounting for an actuating arm.

United States Patent l l l Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Joseph Pickles Birmingham, Mich.

Nov; 18, 1969 Dec. 14, 1971 Form Manufacturing Corporation Detroit,Mich.

TOP LIFT ACTUATOR 13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl

Field 01 Search Primary ExaminerBenjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-RobertR. Song Anorney-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap ABSTRACT: An actuator fora collapsible top of a vehicle comprising a compact arrangement ofseries connected planetary or epicyclic gear sets including a fixed ringgear common to all sets serving as a pivot mounting for an actuatingarm.

PATENTEUUEBMISYI 3627,37?

SHEET 1 [1F 3 FIG?) IN VENTOR.

BY JOS ATTORNE PATENTEUUEBMIEWI 3,627,377

SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORN S TOP LIFT ACTUATOR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Thepresent invention represents an improvement over applicant-s priorpatent entitled Top Lift Slave Assembly." U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,551,issued Oct. 14, 1969.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a power unitadapted to be connected to a relatively small and compact electric motorand includes a worm and worm gear connected to a plurality, specificallythree, stages of planetary or epicyclic gearing.

The power unit comprises a stationary frame which partially encloses thegearing and which carries a pivoted power output 'arm. The stationaryframe includes an elongated ring gear provided with teeth at itsinterior and with a cylindrical external bearing surface. The pivotedarm is formed of mating sections the inner end portion of which iscylindrically shaped to be mounted on the external cylindrical surfaceof the ring gear. The inner end of the arm is also shaped tosubstantially complete the enclosure of the gearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG I is a front elevation of theactuator assembly.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the actuator assembly.

FIG. 3 is a side view looking from the left in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 44, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 66, FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7, FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 88, FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which theactuator may serve as the main pivot for a folding top structure, andincludes the mechanism for swinging the main arm.

FIG. I0 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 9 showing the attachmentof the actuator to the main pivot of a folding top by means ofa link.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings the actuatorcomprises a housing structure made up of a mounting cup I0 having a flatbottom wall I] apertured as indicated at 12 for the reception of amounting pin I3. The cup includes a peripherally extending flange I4 andis open at one side as indicated at 15. Associated with the cup is aplate I6 suitably secured to the cup to maintain the parts in assembly.The flange l4 and the peripheral portion of the plate 16 are aperturedas indicated at I8 and when the assembly is solidly bolted to thevehicle, the attaching bolts provide permanent rigid connection betweenthe cup 10 and the plate I6.

Suitably attached to the plate 16 is a cover 20 having an opening 22therethrough for the reception of one end of the pin 13. The other endof the pin 13 is a headed as indicated at 24 and is mounted in theopening 12 by suitable bearing means indicated generally at 26.

The plate I6 is provided with an enlarged circular opening 28 withinwhich is fitted a reduced end portion of a cylindrical ring gear 30. Thereduced end portion of the ring gear is press fitted within the opening28 and is brazed therein to provide a rigid construction.

The actuating arm indicated generally at 32 extends radially of the pinor shaft 13 and is formed of two arm members 34 and 36. The ann member34 includes a cupped portion having a cylindrical wall 38 and agenerally flat bottom wall 40. The arm member 32 is provided with acylindrical sleeve portion 42. The two arm portions are assembliedtogether and welded and together form an enclosure which cooperates withthe housing formed by the cup I0 and the plate 16 to substantiallycompletely enclose the gearing which will subsequently be described.

At this time however, it is important to note that the inner end of thearm 32 comprises a cylindrical sleeve formed by the portions 38 and 36which are adapted to fit closely with the outer cylindrical surface ofthe ring gear 30 and to provide a firm but accurately centered bearingstructure for the pivoted arm.

Inasmuch as the construction is designed for the purpose of producing arelatively great mechanical advantage, necessary because of the greatforces required to open and close a folding top structure, while at thesame time permitting the use of a compact electric motor, theconstruction encompasses a worm and worm gear unit driving a series orcascade connection of a plurality of planetary or epicyclic gear sets.Specifically, the gear includes an input worm 44 which is mounted on ashaft 46 and protected by the cover 20 which is attached to the outersurface of the plate 16. The worm 44 drives a worm gear 48 the centerportion of which has a splined connection to the first-stage sun gear 50which in turn is journaled on the shaft or pin 13. The first-stage outerplate 52 carries three mounting pins 54 which are staked into openingsin the outer plate 52. The pins 54 include enlarged portions 56 on whichare mounted planet gears 58, the gears being retained in place by anenlarged head 59 formed on the pins. Preferably, three planet gears areprovided in each of the first and second stages, although as willsubsequently appear, four are provided in the third-stage. The planetgears 58 mesh with the sun gear 50 which is rotated by the worm gear 48,and mesh also with the stationary fixed ring gear 30. Accordingly, asthe input sun gear 50 is rotated, planet gears 58 are rotated and causedto revolve around the ring gear 30 and impart rotation to thefirst-stage mounting plate 52. The plate 52 is provided with a centralsplined opening 60 which receives the second-stage input sun gear 61,the reduced end portion of which is preferably splined and additionallybrazed to the mounting plate 52.

The second-stage planetary pinions 62 are mounted on pins 63 havingreduced ends which are preferably stacked and brazed into openings 64provided in the second-stage mounting plate 66. It will be observed thatthe planet gears 62 are driven in rotation by the second-stage input sungear 61 and since these are in mesh with the teeth of the stationaryring gear 30, their rotation causes them to orbit or revolve about theaxis of the pin or shaft 13, thus imparting rotation to the second-stagemounting plate 66.

The mounting plate 66 is provided with a central splined opening 68which is adapted to receive the splined end of the elongated third-stagesun gear 70. Accordingly, the sun gear 70 is rotated on the shaft I3 asa consequence of rotation of the input worm 44.

The output arm 32, as previously described, includes an arm portion 34having a flat end or bottom wall 40 which as seen in FIGS. I and 2, isprovided with openings 72 which receive laterally bent arms 74 the endsof which are preferably upset and brazed to provide a permanent rigidconnection between the wall portion 40 and a gear retainer plate 76. Thewall 40 is provided with a plurality, herein shown as four, openings 78and the gear retainer plate 76 is provided with similar and alignedopenings 80. Support pins 82 having reduced ends as shown in FIG. 4received in the openings 78 and 80, support planet gears 84 which are inmesh simultaneously with the third-stage input sun gear 70 and the teethof the internal ring gear 30. Accordingly, rotation of the input sungear 70 causes rotation of the planet gears 84 which in turn causes themto revolve relative to the ring gear 30, thus imparting rotation to theoutput arm 32.

The arrangement is characterized particularly by the compactness of itsarrangement, while at the same time providing the necessary power'multiplication and the consequential strength of parts to produce thehigh output torque. It will be observed that the output planet gears 84are four in number and are of a width substantially exceeding the widthof a first and second-stage planet gears 58 and 62.

in connecting the actuator to the power top of a vehicle twoarrangements are possible. In the first place, the housing including thecup may constitute the pivot support for the entire top assembly, inwhich case the output am 32 is shaped to form the main arm of the topassembly, or is shaped for rigid mechanical connection thereto.

in convertible tops the articulated linkage which is folded and unfoldedas the top is lowered and raised, is actuated by a link connectedbetween a fixed pivot support on the automobile and a portion of thefolding or articulated linkage of the top.

In this case the link may if desired, b connected at one end to aportion of the housing support structure 10, 16. Alternatively ofcourse, although the arm 32 may constitute the actual pivot mounting ofthe entire top structure, the pivot for the link which produces foldingmovement of the articulated top structure may be connected to acompletely independent portion of the vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 9 these arrangements are diagrammaticallyindicated where the actuator structure disclosed in detail herein isindicated generally at 90, and the actuating arm which is pivotedthereto is indicated at 94. If desired, the actuating link whichconnects to a portion of the articulated folding top structure, may beas indicated at 96, pivoted to an extension 98 of the actuator.Alternatively of course, the pivot mounting 100 may be to a part of thevehicle structurally independent of the actuator 90.

Referring now to FIG. 10 there is diagrammatically illustrated anotherarrangement in which the main pivot of the folding top structure isindicated at 102. A portion of the folding top is indicated at 104 andit will be recognized that with this arrangement the link which producesfolding of the articulated structure on swinging of the arm 104 is notshown. Here, the actuator shown in detail in the foregoing is againindicated at 90 and includes the actuating arm 92 which is pivoted tothe actuator as indicated at 94. With this arrangement a parallel link106 is provided connecting the actuating arm 92 to the mounting arm 104of the folding top.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An actuator comprising a mounting plate structure having a portionconstituting a first wall, a cupped housing fixed to said plate, thebottom of said cup constituting a second wall spaced from said firstwall, a pivot pin extending between said walls, an elongated internalring gear fixed to one of said walls and extending toward the other ofsaid walls, an actuating arm assembly comprising a pair of arm membersrigidly secured together having matched cylindrical portions journaledon the exterior of said ring gear, and a series of planetary reductiongear sets carried by said pivot pin and including a final stage outputplanet set connected to said fiat end wall.

2. An actuator as defined in claim 1 in which said one arm member has anend wall at the end of its cylindrical portion opposite the cylindricalportion of the other of said arm members, said ring gear and the saidend wall constituting with said plate structure a complete enclosure forthe gearing.

3. An actuator as defined in claim 2, said gearing including an inputsun gear on said pin, a worm gear fixed to said input sun gear, a wormin mesh with said worm gear mounted on said plate structure, said platestructure comprising a fixed cover and mounting member in which saidworm is mounted.

4. An actuator as defined in claim 1 including a pinion support plateparallel to said end wall, said gearing comprising output planet pinionsjournaled between the end wall of said cupped portion and said pinionsupport plate.

5. An actuator comprising a mounting plate having an enlarged circularopening therethrough, an elongated tubular ring gear having acylindrical outer surface and being rigidly fixed at one end to saidplate and surrounding said opening, an actuating arm structure having anelongated cylindrical portion at its inner end journaled on the outercylindrical surface of said ring gear and having an end wallsubstantially closing the other end of said tubular ring gear, and aseries of planetary gear sets within said ring gear including a set ofoutput p anet pinions journaled for rotation on the end wall of thecylindrical portion of said arm structure and in mesh with the teeth ofsaid ring gear.

6. An actuator as defined in claim 5 in which said gear sets eachincludes a sun gear, a pivot pin on which said sun gears are mounted,and means rigidly connected to said plate supporting opposite ends ofsaid pin.

7. An actuator as defined in claim 6 in which one of said gear setscomprises an input sun gear having a worm gear fixed thereto, a worm inmesh with said wonn gear, a worm housing fixed to said plate andsurrounding the enlarged opening therein and including means mountingsaid worm gear therein, said worm housing constituting the means formounting one end of said pin.

8. An actuator as defined in claim 6 in which the means for mounting oneend of said pin comprises a cupped housing fixed to said plate and openat one side to provide for movement of said arm structure.

9. An actuator as defined in claim 5, said actuator being a vehiclefolding top lift actuator and said arm constituting the main pivotmounting for the folding top structure at one side of the vehicle.

10. An actuator as defined in claim 9 comprising a link pivoted to saidplate for attachment to said top structure to control folding andunfolding movement thereof as a consequence of swinging movement of saidarm.

11. An actuator comprising a mounting plate having a portionconstituting a first wall, a cupped housing fixed to said plate andhaving a second wall spaced from said first wall, a pivot pin extendingbetween said walls, an elongated tubular internal ring gear having acylindrical outer surface, said ring gear being fixed to one of saidwalls and extending toward said other wall, an actuating arm having acupped end portion journaled on the cylindrical exterior of said ringgear and having an apertured bottom wall through which said pin extends,said cupped housing having a lateral opening through which said armextends, and a series of planetary reduction gear sets carried by saidpivot pin and located within said tubular ring gear and including afinal output planet set carried by the bottom wall of the cupped portionof said arm.

12. An actuator as defined in claim 11 in which said pivot pin extendsthrough openings in said first and second walls, means mounting said pinin said openings and constituting closures for said openings, said lastmeans together with said tubular ring gear and the cupped end portion ofsaid arm constituting an enclosure for the planetary gearing locatedwithin said tubular ring gear.

13. An actuator as defined in claim 12 in which the means closing theopening in said mounting plate which receives said pin comprising a wormand worm gear housing, a worm and worm gear set in said last mentionedhousing, and means connecting said worm gear to the input planetary gearset.

1. An actuator comprising a mounting plate structure having a portionconstituting a first wall, a cupped housing fixed to said plate, thebottom of said cup constituting a second wall spaced from said firstwall, a pivot pin extending between said walls, an elongated internalring gear fixed to one of said walls and extending toward the other ofsaid walls, an actuating arm assembly comprising a pair of arm membersrigidly secured together having matched cylindrical portions journaledon the exterior of said ring gear, one of said arm members having at itsinner end a cup shaped portion with a flat end wall, and a series ofplanetary reduction gear sets carried by said pivot pin and including afinal stage output planet set connected to said flat end wall.
 2. Anactuator as defined in claim 1 in which said one arm member has an endwall at the end of its cylindrical portion opposite the cylindricalportion of the other of said arm members, said ring gear and the saidend wall constituting with said plate structure a complete enclosure forthe gearing.
 3. An actuator as defined in claim 2, said gearingincluding an input sun gear on said pin, a worm gear fixed to said inputsun gear, a worm in mesh with said wOrm gear mounted on said platestructure, said plate structure comprising a fixed cover and mountingmember in which said worm is mounted.
 4. An actuator as defined in claim1 including, a pinion support plate parallel to said end wall, saidgearing comprising output planet pinions journaled between the end wallof said cupped portion and said pinion support plate.
 5. An actuatorcomprising a mounting plate having an enlarged circular openingtherethrough, an elongated tubular ring gear having a cylindrical outersurface and being rigidly fixed at one end to said plate and surroundingsaid opening, an actuating arm structure having an elongated cylindricalportion at its inner end journaled on the outer cylindrical surface ofsaid ring gear and having an end wall substantially closing the otherend of said tubular ring gear, and a series of planetary gear setswithin said ring gear including a set of output planet pinions journaledfor rotation on the end wall of the cylindrical portion of said armstructure and in mesh with the teeth of said ring gear.
 6. An actuatoras defined in claim 5 in which said gear sets each includes a sun gear,a pivot pin on which said sun gears are mounted, and means rigidlyconnected to said plate supporting opposite ends of said pin.
 7. Anactuator as defined in claim 6 in which one of said gear sets comprisesan input sun gear having a worm gear fixed thereto, a worm in mesh withsaid worm gear, a worm housing fixed to said plate and surrounding theenlarged opening therein and including means mounting said worm geartherein, said worm housing constituting the means for mounting one endof said pin.
 8. An actuator as defined in claim 6 in which the means formounting one end of said pin comprises a cupped housing fixed to saidplate and open at one side to provide for movement of said armstructure.
 9. An actuator as defined in claim 5, said actuator being avehicle folding top lift actuator and said arm constituting the mainpivot mounting for the folding top structure at one side of the vehicle.10. An actuator as defined in claim 9 comprising a link pivoted to saidplate for attachment to said top structure to control folding andunfolding movement thereof as a consequence of swinging movement of saidarm.
 11. An actuator comprising a mounting plate having a portionconstituting a first wall, a cupped housing fixed to said plate andhaving a second wall spaced from said first wall, a pivot pin extendingbetween said walls, an elongated tubular internal ring gear having acylindrical outer surface, said ring gear being fixed to one of saidwalls and extending toward said other wall, an actuating arm having acupped end portion journaled on the cylindrical exterior of said ringgear and having an apertured bottom wall through which said pin extends,said cupped housing having a lateral opening through which said armextends, and a series of planetary reduction gear sets carried by saidpivot pin and located within said tubular ring gear and including afinal output planet set carried by the bottom wall of the cupped portionof said arm.
 12. An actuator as defined in claim 11 in which said pivotpin extends through openings in said first and second walls, meansmounting said pin in said openings and constituting closures for saidopenings, said last means together with said tubular ring gear and thecupped end portion of said arm constituting an enclosure for theplanetary gearing located within said tubular ring gear.
 13. An actuatoras defined in claim 12 in which the means closing the opening in saidmounting plate which receives said pin comprising a worm and worm gearhousing, a worm and worm gear set in said last mentioned housing, andmeans connecting said worm gear to the input planetary gear set.